Bicycle



(No Model.) 2 t -Sheet 1,

'G. G. MATHEWS.

BICYCLE.

No. 602,461. Patented Apr. 19, 1898;

wif j sses 'dfl-wzivews (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

G. C. MATHEWS.

BICYCLE.

Patented Apr. 12, 1898.

llNTTE STATES PATENT FTQEQ BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 602,461, dated April19, 1898.

Application filed January 20, 1897. Serial No. 619,924. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE O. MATHEWS, a citizen of the United States,residing at J acksonville, in the county of Duval and State of Florida,have invented a new and useful Bicycle, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to bicycles and like machines which are generallypropelled through the intervention of a drive-chain.

The purpose of the improvement is to devise a simple propellingmechanism and one which will be effective, reduce friction, enable avariable leverage to be used at the option of the rider according to thecondition of the road, combine the advantages of a brake and a stand,and avoid the use of a chain, which has been found objectionable in manyrespect-s.

One of the principal objects is the provision of a propelling-gear whichcan be readily applied to any of the types of machines now in usewithout necessitating a reconstruction of the frame.

Obviously new machines will be specially adapted to receive theinvention, thereby dispensing with the plates required to attach theinvention to the various forms of machines now in use.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the inventionreference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the followingdescription.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in theform,proportion, and the minor details of construction without departingfrom the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and toa full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a side elevation of abicycle having the invention applied, parts being broken away and thedotted lines representing different positions of the foot-levers. Fig. 2is a detail view showing more clearly the relation of the partscomprising the driving-gear and the means for'attaching the same to theframe of an ordinary bicycle. Fig. 3 is a detail view of a plate whichis bolted or otherwise secured to the machine-frame at the juncture ofthe rear braces and bottom runs.

Fig. 4 is a detail view, in horizontal section,

of the driving-gear, showing the relation of its parts to the axle ofthe drive-wheel. Fig. 5 is a detail View of the inner or rear portion ofa foot-lever and its resetting-spring and dog, showing a differentconstruction and arrangement of pawl. Fig. 6 is a detail view, invertical section, of a ball-bearing.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in the several views of the accompanyingdrawings by the same reference characters.

The machine shownis of ordinary construction and illustrates theapplication of theinvention. The axle of the rear or drive wheel isextended and threaded, as shown at 1, and a pinion 2 is made fastthereto and operates in conjunction with an internally-toothed rim 3 forimparting motion to the drive-wheel. The toothed rim 3 is intermittentlyactuated by means of a foot-lever 4 and a dog 5, having pivotalconnection therewith, the latter automatically gripping the rim upondepressing the lever andreleasing the rim'when the lever is returning toa normal or starting position. The foot-lever 4 and the rim are looselymounted upon a stud or pin 6,having its projecting end threadedtoreceive the complementary parts of the ball-bearings. The dog 5 is ofcircular form and is pivoted eccentrically to the lever 4 in such mannerthat it will automatically and positively grip the rim 3 when pushingdown on the lever, thereby imparting movement to the rim and motion tothe machine through the pinion 2, as will be readily comprehended.Aspring 7 is secured at one end to a collar 8, secured upon the stud 6,and its opposite end is fastened to the lever 4 a distance from itsfulcrum. The in nor end of the spring 7 is coiled around the collar 8,as most clearly indicated in Fig. 5, thereby admitting of the leverbeing depressed at its free end, said spring serving to return the leverto a normalposition when released. A stop 9 is provided on the lever andsupports the dog 5 when thrown out of action, as indicated by the dottedlines in Fig. 2. A stop 10 is suitably located and limits the returnmovement of the foot-lever and holds it in a normal position when notpressed upon. I I

The pin or stud 6 is located forward of the axle 1 and is paralleltherewith and will be supported-in asubstantial manner, the meansresorted to depending upon the style and construction of the machine. Innew machines the frame will be of such construction as to provide asupport for the pin; but for the various types of machines now in useplates 11 will be provided and clamped or bolted to the frame-bars atthe juncture of the rear braces with the bottom runs, said plates beingof approximately triangular form to correspond to the angular outline ofthe frame-bars to which they are secured and having the middle portionremoved for the sake of lightness, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3. Asshown in Fig. 2, the bolts or fastenings 12 pass through openings in theplates and are disposed to engage with the frame-bars, so as to preventvertical displacement of the plates after the bolts are properlytightened. An opening 13 is formed in the plates to receive the pin orstud 6, and a notch 14 receives the bearing for the axle 1 and admits ofthe axle being readily removed for any purpose upon loosening thefastening means. A pair of plates 11 is provided 'for each side of themachineframe, and a plate of each pair is disposed so 7 that the platescome upon opposite sides of the frame-bars to which they are applied andclamped.

The toothed rim 3 is secured to spokes 15 by suitable fastenings, and aplate 16 forms the outer wall of a dust-guard and is secured between thespokes and the rim. A plate 17 is fastened to the pin or stud 6 in anyconvenient manner and has openings for the passage of the pin or studand for the hub of pinion 2, and this plate 17 forms the inner wall ofthe dust-guard, which prevents the entrance of sand, mud, dust, or otherforeign matter into the space formed between the two plates 16 and 17.An annulus 18, of L form in cross-section, is secured to the inner faceof the rim 3, and its horizontal flange overlaps the edge of the plate17 and forms a snug joint therewith, so as to exclude foreign matter.

The foot-lever 4 is provided at its end with a roller 19, which isadapted to be brought into contact with thesurface of the road upondepressing the lever, thereby serving as a brake to check the speed ofthe machine, the pressure depending upon the force exerted by the rider.A pedal 20 is located near the free end of the foot-lever and isutilized when climbing grades or riding over rough roads, as it enablesa maximum amount of leverage to be utilized in propelling the machine. Asecond pedal 21 is located about midway the ends of the foot-lever andis brought into service on level roads and when the riding is not heavyand can be utilized as a rest when coasting. The foot can be changedfrom one pedal to the other at the will of the rider, and if it berequired to check the speed of the machine a pressure exerted upon thepedal 21 will lower the lever until the roller 19 is brought forciblyinto contact with the surface of the road,whereby the desired end isaccomplished. When the machine is not required for immediate service,the lever can be moved beyond the vertical, as indicated by the dottedlines in Fig. 1, and will act jointly with the wheels to support thebicycle in an upright position, both levers in effect forming a stand.The machine can be readily mounted without initial velocity being giventhereto by placing foot on pedal 21 and depressing lever until roller 19rests on surface of road. Then rider will mount, keeping lever stilldepressed to ground until ready to'start by pressure on the other lever,which is at rest in normal elevated position. It is obvious that thebicycle can be stopped and started again without dismounting.

The ball-bearings for the axle, foot-lever, and power-transmitting wheelare similarly formed, each consisting of a cup 22 and cones 23 and 24:,the ball-races being of greater diameter than the balls, as most clearlyindicated in Fig. 4. By this construction the balls are centralized andthe wear is sustained by the central portion of the ball-races, andprovision is had for advancing the cones to compensate for wear and takeup lost motion. The cones 23 and 24 are mounted upon the threadedportion of either the axle or the pin or stud and have a space betweentheir inner or opposing ends to admit of the cones being broughttogether to secure a close joint. An extension 25 is applied to theouter end of the pin or stud 6 and provides a step or foot-rest toenable the machine to be readily mounted in the ordinary manner.

It will be understood that each side of the machine will be providedwith a drive-gear similar to that described and shown, thereby enablingthe levers to be alternately or simultaneously actuated as desired. Whendepressing the free end of a foot-lever, its dog 5 will grip the toothedrim 3 of the power-transmitting gear and turn it, and by reason of thegear or toothed rim intermeshin g with the pinion 2, secured to theaxle, the latter will be positively rotated and actuate the drive-wheel26 and propel the machine, as will be readily comprehended.

The pawl 5 may be replaced by a pawl 5, located to act with the teeth ofthe rim 3, said pawl having its inner end heavy and rounding to rideupon the teeth when the lever passes beyond the perpendicular and whenreturning to a starting-point.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In adrive-gear for bicycles, &c., a footlever bearing a pedal to receive thepressure by means of which the machine is propelled and of such relativelength that when depressed a portion will be brought into contact withthe surface over which the machine is advancing for the purpose ofchecking its speed, substantially as described.

2. In a drive-gear for bicycles, &c., a footlever bearing a pedal toreceive the pressure,

by means of which the machine is propelled and of such relative lengththat when depressed its end will be brought in contact with the surfaceover which the machine is advanc ing for the purpose of checking itsspeed, and having a roller to receive the impact and travel upon thesaid surface, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a drive-gear for bicycles, &c. the combination of a pinion securedto the axle of the drive-wheel, a stud secured at a distance from thedrive-wheel axle, an internally-toothed wheel mounted upon the said studand intermeshing with the aforesaid pinion, a dustguard secured to theouter side of the powertransmitting wheel, a dust-guard independent ofthe said wheel and closing its inner side and having openings for thepassage therethrough of the stud and drive-wheel axle, an annulussecured to the inner side of the internally-toothed wheel andoverlapping the joint formed between it and the inner dust-guard, and alever mounted upon the aforementioned stud and having a dog tointermittently grip the power-transmitting or internally-toothed wheel,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In adrive-gear for bicycles, the combination of plates, means forclamping the plates upon opposite sides of the frame-bars at thejuncture of the rear braces and bottom runs, the drive-wheel having itsaxle mounted in the said plates and provided with a pinion, a studapplied to the plates, an internallytoothed rim and a foot-lever mountedupon the stud, the toothed rim intermeshing with the pinion, a springfor returning the foot-lever to a normal position, a stop for limitingthe return of the foot-lever, and a dog carried by the foot-lever togripthe toothed rim, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE O. MATHEWS.

Witnesses:

O. W. FRozIER, H. J. OAssIDEY.

